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Buffalo, New York is the state's second-largest city, a Great Lakes port on the eastern shore of Lake Erie at the head of the Niagara River, and its student life centers on the University at Buffalo, the largest SUNY school. UB spreads across two main campuses: the older South Campus in the city's University Heights neighborhood and the sprawling North Campus a few miles north in suburban Amherst, where the Ellicott Complex and most academic programs sit. That split shapes where students live, from the dense streets of University Heights to the quieter pockets of Amherst, Snyder, and Williamsville. Buffalo itself is a city of grand architecture, Olmsted-designed parks, and a revived Lake Erie waterfront, and Niagara Falls sits just up the river.
The classic student neighborhood right next to South Campus, dense and walkable along Main Street with the Metro Rail at the door. The top pick for car-free students.
The suburban town around North Campus, with apartment complexes and houses geared to students near the academic core and the Ellicott Complex.
Quiet, leafy residential areas just east of North Campus, popular with students who want a calm, settled base with quick access to class.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Buffalo.
The NFTA Metro Rail is a single light-rail line running up Main Street from downtown to University Station in University Heights, right by UB's South Campus, with the downtown stretch above ground and free to ride. NFTA buses fill out the network and connect the Metro Rail to North Campus in Amherst. Since the two campuses are a few miles apart, UB runs its own shuttle between them, the backbone of many commutes. In University Heights you can reach the Metro on foot.
In University Heights you can walk to class and reach the Metro on foot, since South Campus sits right alongside the neighborhood. Biking works well in warm months. The lake-effect winters are no joke, so cold-weather cycling is tough. North Campus in Amherst is more spread out, so walking covers less ground there.
A car isn't essential in University Heights, but many North Campus students keep one given the suburban layout in Amherst. Driving helps for trips between the spread-out campuses and across the city. Parking is generally easier in the suburban North Campus area. Confirm permit and parking rules with your complex or UB before move-in.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Buffalo is genuinely manageable for a real city. Near campus in University Heights, two-bedrooms commonly run about $1,200 to $2,100 a month, while North/South Buffalo and the nearby suburbs fall more in the $800 to $1,400 range, so the overall student window is roughly $800 to $2,100 depending on location, utilities, and amenities. Sharing a house with roommates drops the per-person cost well down.
Buffalo is home to 3 universities, each with its own student housing market.
Buffalo State University sits on Elmwood Avenue at the edge of Elmwood Village, one of Buffalo's most walkable neighborhoods, adjacent to Delaware Park and the Albright-Knox art gallery. As part of the SUNY system, it draws students from across New York with strong programs in the arts, education, and applied sciences.…
View housing near Buffalo State UniversityCanisius University is a private Jesuit institution along Main Street in Buffalo's east side, enrolling around 2,500 undergraduates and a significant graduate population. Founded in 1870, it has a strong identity in health professions, business, and the liberal arts. Freshmen live on campus, and the streets surrounding…
View housing near Canisius UniversityThe University at Buffalo enrolls about 32,300 students across two campuses: the modern North Campus in suburban Amherst and the older, walkable South Campus closer to the city. As the largest SUNY school, UB runs on free shuttles linking the two, plus the Metro Rail to South Campus. Around South Campus, University…
View housing near UBBrowse student housing near each Buffalo-area university.